The Cavaliers have dominated the Sixers, winning their last 11 meetings straight up, yet the point spread is the ultimate equalizer as evidenced by Philadelphia covering in six of those 11. Recently, Cleveland has won six of its last eight contests overall and covered the NBA odds in five of those. Meanwhile, the 76ers are emerging as an Eastern Conference force, and their vast improvement this season over the last several dismal years is a welcome trend for the Philly fans.

Cleveland has won and covered its last three vs. Philadelphia, with the most recent being a 105-98 victory in December as 5-point home chalk. However, that was before the seismic shift in the Cavs' roster when they dealt away Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and Derrick Rose and received George Hill, Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood and Larry Nance Jr. through the course of several deals. Although the bigger names were shipped out, it has done nothing but benefit the keeper of the castle in Cleveland, LeBron James. During the month of February, James averaged a triple-double (27 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists), which is the first time he has ever accomplished that feat in any month in a career filled with superlatives.

One might view this as a must win for Philadelphia as it tries separate itself from the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff pack, but that would be ignoring Cleveland’s desperate attempt to secure the No. 3 seed in the East by putting daylight between it and its nearest rivals, Washington and Indiana. This new-look Cavaliers team his lit a fire under LeBron, and if you ever doubted the concept of team chemistry then look no further than the Cavs before and after the trade.

If you have been backing Cleveland in your NBA picks this season, I understand your genuine consternation in what appears to be throwing good money after bad as the team has gone a woeful 19-40-1 against the number. But that was then and this is now, with Cleveland covering in five of its last eight and not being the complete and utter money-burner that the Cavs had been earlier this season. The number looks surprisingly low to me as I believe the upstart 76ers are getting a bit more love from the oddsmakers than they deserve. The Cavs are 4-0 straight up and 3-1 ATS over their last four meetings with the Sixers in games played in Cleveland, and I believe that number will improve tonight. Back the Cavs and watch them cover the number with relative ease on Thursday night.